I'm Stumped

[LukeFishwalker]

I have a 30 Gallon tank stocked with an angelfish 2 golden gouramis, a few neons, and two mystery snails. My dechlorinator has "Nitra-ban" in it but I still do 30% water changes about every week to week and half. My tank temp stays between 82 and 84. My two mystery snails died about a week ago (about a week apart from each other) - I dont know if they fish ate them or what. Since then I've had a little algae problem. It hasnt been bad, just enough to look ugly. So I decided to to a 90% water change and clean the tank really well and then buy some new snails. I removed the fish and I did the water change and everything went fine until this morning when my all my neons were dead and my angelfish was at the bottom of the tank. I reached in the tank to try to make him swim but he didnt move. He was still alive but couldnt swim more than a few inches.

Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia were at 0.0 ppm before and after the change. Temp was good as well. The only thing I can think of is shock? The gouramis are fine.

 

[Squid]

What test kit do you use. A cycled tank with a reading of 0 nitrates is a little unusual.

Squid

 

[tetraqueen]

angels and neons together?
My nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad ? Do you live in hard water area

 

[Davo86]

When did you say you did the 90% water change?

 

[Squid]

angels and neons together?
My nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad ? Do you live in hard water area

Angels and neons can work, depending on the order of being added to the tank, and the size/age of the angels and neons at time of adding.

BTW.. what do you mean your nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad?

Squid?

 

[Little-Fizz]

angels and neons together?
My nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad ? Do you live in hard water area

You should always have nitrates. Nitrates are good, anywhere from 5 - 40ppm are safe. I like to have it somewhere in between.

 

[DSE]

angels and neons together?
My nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad ? Do you live in hard water area

You should always have nitrates. Nitrates are good, anywhere from 5 - 40ppm are safe. I like to have it somewhere in between.

I thought they should all read zero after cycling ? Mine do, is this wrong ?

 

[tetraqueen]

depends on hard or soft water and scale you use.

 

[Little-Fizz]

angels and neons together?
My nitrate doesn't measure unless really bad ? Do you live in hard water area

You should always have nitrates. Nitrates are good, anywhere from 5 - 40ppm are safe. I like to have it somewhere in between.

I thought they should all read zero after cycling ? Mine do, is this wrong ?

Nitrates are the end result of cycling the tank. Maybe your not testing properly, a cycled tank should have reading within the safe range. What type of testing kit do you use?

 

[Squid]

depends on hard or soft water and scale you use.

Not sure what you mean here.

 

[tetraqueen]

I am wrong I apologise (((Sorry))) its Ammonia that we test for as in its NH3 or NH4 depending on the ph.

We also test Nirite according to ph however I have looked at all the bottles more closely and there is no nitrate.

The guy in the lfs had told hubby that its pointless as they they are always present.

So perhaps I need to add a fourth test.

 

[Little-Fizz]

I am wrong I apologise (((Sorry))) its Ammonia that we test for as in its NH3 or NH4 depending on the ph.

We also test Nirite according to ph however I have looked at all the bottles more closely and there is no nitrate.

The guy in the lfs had told hubby that its pointless as they they are always present.

So perhaps I need to add a fourth test.

Blah I'm so confused right now but probably because I should be in bed. Not really 100% sure of what your talking about but if you mean you should get a nitrate tester, thats probably a good idea. They are always present unless there is something wrong.. Really wrong. Like not a fully cycled tank. Nitrates are in the safe range if they are 5ppm to 40ppm. I try to keep it in the middle. Sorry if I'm just really confused.

 

[DSE]

I am wrong I apologise (((Sorry))) its Ammonia that we test for as in its NH3 or NH4 depending on the ph.

We also test Nirite according to ph however I have looked at all the bottles more closely and there is no nitrate.

The guy in the lfs had told hubby that its pointless as they they are always present.

So perhaps I need to add a fourth test.

Blah I'm so confused right now but probably because I should be in bed. Not really 100% sure of what your talking about but if you mean you should get a nitrate tester, thats probably a good idea. They are always present unless there is something wrong.. Really wrong. Like not a fully cycled tank. Nitrates are in the safe range if they are 5ppm to 40ppm. I try to keep it in the middle. Sorry if I'm just really confused.

Please ignore my post peeps. My kit says below 40 ppm for Nitrates is good. Zero is NOT what you want.

Sorry for any confusion caused.

 

[LukeFishwalker]

My nitrates are at zero because my de-chlorinator has Nitra-ban in it. And yes, I had an Angelfish in with Neons. The Angelfish was small when I got him and I added him after the neons. Besides, neons are cheap.

Anyway, if it were a problem with ammonia or nitrates or something wouldnt it have affected my gouramis as well?

My PH is 8.2 out of the tap - I think someone asked that.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Do you have an airstone working at night? If everything has died thats a usual cause of asphyxia.

Chris